DiyLightAnimation

Hardware => Lynx Freestyle => Topic started by: Muskogee Gene on March 23, 2011,

Title: Troubleshooting questions
Post by: Muskogee Gene on March 23, 2011,
I am working my way thru the troubleshooting part of the manual.
Step 1 was good but I am confused on Step 2.  In checking the left side of the 15k (formerly 27k) resistor where does the other lead touch?
Title: Re: Troubleshooting questions
Post by: JoeFromOzarks on March 24, 2011,
Referencing the component side of the board, the left side of the 15K goes to pin5 of the H11AA1 and to pin21 of the 18F2455. 

The right side of the 15K goes to +5V rail, the 100uF electrolytic cap and 78S05.  (The right side of the 15k should be the same voltage checked in step 1.)

What troubles are you having?

:) joe
Title: Re: Troubleshooting questions
Post by: Muskogee Gene on March 24, 2011,
Thanks Joe.  The FS does nothing.  If it has been unplugged for a while, the lights will blink when it is plugged in.  Otherwise, no response.  I also built a dongle and I think it is working, though I don't have a way to really test it other than watching the LEDs blink and change with power level changes in Vixen.
Title: Re: Troubleshooting questions
Post by: tbone321 on March 24, 2011,
Did you load the firmware?
Title: Re: Troubleshooting questions
Post by: chrisatpsu on March 24, 2011,
stated in Step 1 of the manual

From this point on the measurements all will be done with the negative probe left on the top location which is ground for the digital circuits.

so for step 2, to measure voltage

keep the negative probe from the meter where it was for step 1

check the positive on the left side of the that resistor on the other side of the board near the fuse (not the big resistors) don't touch the fuse either, as you might get shocked, or fry your meter.
Title: Re: Troubleshooting questions
Post by: Muskogee Gene on March 24, 2011,
Holy Cow!!!  Thanks Chris.  I can't believe I totally missed that.  The bold print must have made me ignore it.
Title: Re: Troubleshooting questions
Post by: chrisatpsu on March 24, 2011,
no problem, but please dont fry yourself in your excitement
Title: Re: Troubleshooting questions
Post by: Muskogee Gene on March 24, 2011,
OK.  Worked thru the troubleshooting and all voltages checked out.   The clock voltage was 2.52 which I found interesting since I was getting 4.96 on the 5v readings. 

TBone:  I sent the PIC to a person on the forum to program.  I since purchased a programmer, put in the PIC and read it successfully getting the correct checksum.  I am assuming that says the programming is valid.  Please correct me if that is not a good way to know.

Hmmm.  So now what?
Title: Re: Troubleshooting questions
Post by: chrisatpsu on March 24, 2011,
what is it doing? (or not doing)

you can also try showing us pictures of the back side of the board, try to take good pictures without any glare on the pcb. a good way to tell if its a good pic, before you upload it, look at the pic on the computer and see if you can see the solder joints really well, that way we can see it too.
Title: Re: Troubleshooting questions
Post by: tbone321 on March 24, 2011,
If the programmer is able to read from the pic and the checksum checks out then there is a pretty good chance that the pic is good and functining properly.  Did you attempt to set the start channel?  Until you do, the freestyle will not operate.  If the unit fails to respond to setting the start channel, you could always download the current firmware for the freestyle and reload the pic.  This will eliminate that as a possible cause for it not working.
Title: Re: Troubleshooting questions
Post by: D56VillageNut on March 24, 2011,
From my own first Freestyle build.   <fp.

Check the four rows of chips between the RJ-45 jacks.  The dot or notch for pin 1 is on the opposite end for the lower two rows.  I've attached a pic below for reference.

On my first one I had all the notches for these 16 sockets facing to the left when looking at the PCB.  I didn't remove and redo the sockets but I did turn the chips around in the lower two rows and it worked.  Made darn sure the next Freestyle had the sockets installed correctly.  

May not be the issue here but it took several DLA members looking at my posted pics to bring my attention to that little "Oops" on my part.

Just taking a stab at the issue.

Alan T
Title: Re: Troubleshooting questions
Post by: Muskogee Gene on March 26, 2011,
OK.  I think I finally got some decent pictures of the board.  BTW, for those who haven't taken pictures of these things, take them outside on a cloudy day.  Natural light works much better than artificial for cutting the glare.  I was about to throw the whole thing in the trash trying to get a decent picture last night.
Title: Re: Troubleshooting questions
Post by: Muskogee Gene on March 26, 2011,
here is one more picture
Title: Re: Troubleshooting questions
Post by: RJ on March 26, 2011,
I am not positive from the picture but the clock module looks like the dot on it is diaginal from the dot on the pcb? If so the clock is not in correct. I do see what could be a dot in the correct place but it is hard to tell on the pic just check it for me.


Never mind I see you checked the output and got ~ 2.5 volts so it has to be in correct.

I do not see in the post what it is and is not doing? I am aways happy to help you if you want to pm me to setup a time we can meet in Teamspeak to work through it.

RJ
Title: Re: Troubleshooting questions
Post by: Muskogee Gene on March 26, 2011,
Sorry about that.  I thought I had posted the issue but that was in the dongle area. 

I get nothing from the FS.  If the dongle is connected, there is a single flash on the light string connected to the SSR the moment the FS is plugged in.  Otherwise nothing.

I will go buy a headset so we can chat.  I will pm you to setup a time.  Thanks RJ.

Title: Re: Troubleshooting questions
Post by: Muskogee Gene on March 26, 2011,
Hey, I've got blinkey.  I'm a lot embarrassed about the solution, but for the benefit of the community I will share the process.

I called the lighting guy at my church and borrowed a DMX controlled light, adapted to RJ45 and tested using Vixen's test channels.  It dimmed and brightened eliminating the dongle as the problem.

The next thing in the chain is the cable and there I found the problem.  I had pulled a x-over cable from my bag.  I normally mark those but didn't mark this one for some reason.  I connected a straight-thru cable, programmed the start channel and the miracle happened. 

Thanks to all for your interest in helping me.  It is greatly appreciated. 

Humbled in Muskogee

Title: Re: Troubleshooting questions
Post by: RJ on March 26, 2011,
Glad you found your problem and also glad it was not the hardware!  ;D

RJ
Title: Re: Troubleshooting questions
Post by: rm357 on March 26, 2011,
Glad it was something easy!!!!
Congrats on finding the problem.
RM